Secure custom application cloud computing architecture

Abstract

A secure custom application cloud computing architecture which facilitates virtually seamless migration of custom applications to and from a cloud computing environment in response to user needs. The architecture identifies the custom applications and the associated network architecture needed to support the applications. The network architecture is then replicated in the cloud and the custom applications are migrated thereto. In some embodiments, the application can be archived while in the cloud and disabled, then later reenabled when needed.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request to subscribe to a service whereby a custom application can be migrated from a private computing environment to a cloud computing environment;   creating a model of the custom application;   evaluating the model and determining an optimal configuration that can be supported by the cloud computing environment;   receiving a provisioning request;   instantiating at least one physical or virtual machine to facilitate migration of the custom application to the cloud computing environment; and,   migrating the custom application to the cloud computing environment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the model comprising a detailed listing of the computing resources used to support the custom application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , the computing resources comprising a definition of the network architecture used to support the custom application. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , the network architecture comprising at least one of the computing capabilities of at least a subset of the components of the network architecture. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , the computing resources comprising a definition of the linked libraries and customizations used by the custom application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 deprovisioning the computing resources used to support the custom application; and,   repurposing the deprovisioned computing resources to support another application in the private computing environment.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 deprovisioning the repurposed computing resources;   reprovisioning the deprovisioned computing resources to support the custom application; and,   migrating the custom application from the cloud computing environment back to the reprovisioned computing equipment in the private computing environment.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to archive the custom application;   archiving at least a portion of the computing resources associated with the custom application in the cloud computing environment; and,   deprovisioning the computing resources in the cloud environment that were associated with the custom application.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 9 , the deprovisioning comprising shutting down of any virtual servers associated with the custom application. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the deprovisioning comprising marking as available for reprovisioning any physical servers associated with the custom application. 
     
     
         11 . A secure custom application cloud computing architecture comprising:
 a platform service orchestrator, the platform service orchestrator managing the operation of the architecture and for receiving a provisioning request;   a provisioning service, the provisioning service tracking and managing various physical and virtual servers employed within the architecture;   at least one adapter, the at least one adapter automating the application of business rules to received provisioning requests;   a plurality of physical machines, at least one of the physical machines being repurposed with a persona selected by the provisioning service based on the received provisioning request; and,   at least one virtual machine farm, the virtual machine farm facilitating the running on at least one virtual machine based on the received provisioning request.   
     
     
         12 . The architecture of  claim 11 , the provisioning request comprising a request from a user. 
     
     
         13 . The architecture of  claim 11 , the provisioning request comprising at least one of a pointer to a blueprint of an architecture for supporting a custom application or the blueprint itself. 
     
     
         14 . The architecture of  claim 13 , the architecture comprising an n-tier architecture for supporting the operation of the custom application. 
     
     
         15 . The architecture of  claim 13 , the blueprint further comprising information necessary to deploy the custom application within the custom application cloud computing architecture. 
     
     
         16 . The architecture of  claim 11 , the platform service orchestrator receiving the provisioning request and, in response thereto, instructing the provisioning service to provision at least one of a physical server and a virtual server. 
     
     
         17 . The architecture of  claim 16 , the at least one adapter instantiating a monitor which tracks performance of the provisioned server. 
     
     
         18 . The architecture of  claim 17 , the performance being used as a basis for billing a user. 
     
     
         19 . The architecture of  claim 18 , the tracked performance comprising the number of instructions executed by the provisioned server in a period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The architecture of  claim 18 , the tracked performance comprising the average amount of storage space used by the provisioned server in a period of time.